Newborn puppy question

[AudreyTN]

The puppies (http://opusdeiacademy.blogspot.com/2008/04/puppies.html)were two weeks old yesterday (Sunday).... is it ok to give them a bath? or at least rinse them off?

We're keeping them in a baby pool in the living room and they are getting quite... uh.. messy. I don't want them to get sick.

[Jean in Newcastle]

I think the issue would be with keeping them warm. If you used warm water with a gentle puppy shampoo and immediately dried them with a warm (but not hot) hair dryer, I would think it would be ok.

[Soph the vet]

It's fine to wipe them off with a warm washcloth, I wouldn't immerse them in water. Why isn't momma keeping them clean? Usually the mom does most of the "bathing" at this stage. Is she feeling ok?

[AudreyTN]

It's fine to wipe them off with a warm washcloth, I wouldn't immerse them in water. Why isn't momma keeping them clean? Usually the mom does most of the "bathing" at this stage. Is she feeling ok?

She's keeping them pretty clean, it's just starting to stink. And a couple of the white ones have obvious ... stuff ... spots on them.

She's only about 10-11 months old herself. I don't know if that has anything to do with it.

I did try to take *mine* out and wipe her off, but Charlie kept trying to get her back. When I put her back in the baby pool, Charlie stood over top of the pup and glared at me.